Pennant \Pen"nant\, n. [OE. penon, penoun, pynoun, OF. penon, F. pennon, fr. L. penna feather. See Pen a feather, and cf. Pennon, Pinion.]

(Naut.)
   (a) A small flag; a pennon. The narrow, or long, pennant (called also whip or coach whip) is a long, narrow piece of bunting, carried at the masthead of a government vessel in commission. The board pennant is an oblong, nearly square flag, carried at the masthead of a commodore's vessel. ``With flags and pennants trimmed.'' --Drayton.
   (b) A rope or strap to which a purchase is hooked.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)